Iconic gardens
Montreal is home to some grand outdoor spaces, and for flower lovers, these destinations are sure bets. With over 75 hectares of garden space, the Jardin Botanique boasts an impressive variety of blooming flowers, plants and trees. You can consult their calendar online to plan your visit when your favourites are flowering.
Mount Royal Park is an obvious destination in spring, less for blooming flowers as for burgeoning trees. Les Amis de la Montagne provide guided tours about the therapeutic benefits of the mountain, from spring through to fall.
But while you’re in the area, stroll through the Mount Royal Cemetery and the Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery, a favourite spot for fans of blossoming magnolia, lilac and crab-apple trees.
To enjoy classical garden styling, visit the grounds of Saint Joseph’s Oratory, which has both formal French-style gardens and informal English inspired flower beds. The grounds are in bloom starting in early May and throughout the summer.
On the Plateau, at the foot of Mount Royal, you’ll find the Musée des hospitalières, which has a stunning garden that’s one of the city’s hidden gems. Watch it bloom before your eyes during a 1h30 guided tour most Sunday between June and September.
Neighbourhoods in bloom
Montréal’s gorgeous neighbourhood parks are packed with blossoming trees and beautifully landscaped gardens. Some favourites for cherry blossoms (starting soon!) include the 26-acre Westmount Park, Chinatown (check out the park beside Palais des congrès), Parc Ahuntsic, and Parc-nature de l’Île-de-la-Visitation.
While the downtown area is undergoing a number of major building projects, it’s still a great place to find your floral haven! Check out the courtyard at Christ Church Cathedral, the flowering trees among the installations at the Quartier des spectacles, Square Victoria’s taste-of-Europe gardens, and the tulip beds along Sherbrooke Street West at the Quartier du Musée.
Hop over to Parc Jean-Drapeau to enjoy tulips and daffodils in bloom along 25 kilometers of trails.
For more ideas about each of Montréal’s neighbourhood parks, be sure to check out our complete guide to Montréal’s parks and green spaces.
Bring your blossoms home
Longing to bring some of spring’s beauty into your home? Make pick-your-own-tulips a part of your springtime ritual. Opening mid-May, you can fill up on flowers and sunshine at the (ultra-’grammable!) tulip fields in either Laval or Brossard (reservation required).
